Recomendations on GPS/Spray mapping systems

[WWS]

So I am looking to purchase a gps/spray mapping system/field computer and there are many options! Does anyone have any recommendations or units to avoid?

Here is what I'm looking to do with it...

I am going to be herbicide spraying and masticating forest openings (of variable sizes, from 0.3 ac up to 400 ac) and am looking for a unit that will...

1. Map where I have sprayed in real time so that I can ensure there is minimal overlap
2. Provide the acreage sprayed
3. Provide track/polygon .gpx or shapefiles that can easily be exported to my office computer for evaluation.
4. Allow me to upload treatment area boundaries and displays them so that I can provide accurate coverage of the sites
5. Provide accuracy within a few feet (need something more accurate than Garmin's +/- 30ft)

Preferably it would buffer the tracks at user defined widths for differing applications and equipment, be compatible with spray systems so that it provides the number of gallons of solution sprayed, and be reliable in wilderness/back country areas where cell signal is weak/non-existant.

Thanks so much!

 

[MikeO]

The BlackBox Marine or Stealth from Patchwork Technology will meet all your requirements, I will PM you some details...

 

[clbarclay]

I am going to be herbicide spraying and masticating forest openings

Are you planning or working close to or under trees?

They can play havock with GPS signals. Some systems will not work fully if the signal is not good enough, but that tends to be with GPS controlled functions rather than just data logging. My Trimble system using a satellite correction signal can still be out by several meters after driving to close to a tree or if the correction satellite is obscured for too long.

 

[WWS]

Yes, we will be working within forest openings and right along forest edges, so looking for a system that has a good antenna or is compatible with an additional gps system booster or something along those lines.

 

[Pheasant Surprise]

Yes, we will be working within forest openings and right along forest edges, so looking for a system that has a good antenna or is compatible with an additional gps system booster or something along those lines.

I fear you may be disappointed with the performance of any system you get, as you’re going to be working (in satellite radio signal terms) in some pretty flaky conditions.

You see satellite signals by their nature are very weak and don’t take kindly to any blocking or sky interference from tree canopy, branches etc. Even just a portion of the sky, doesn’t have to be directly overhead. Most of us that run these system know all too well the havoc trees will cause here. Unfortunately there’s no such thing a “GPS system booster” either.

The best advice I can give you is whatever you intend to get, see if you can get a trial or get the supplier/installer to run a survey where you’re going to be working to see how well it holds up.

Personally in those sorts of really marginal conditions, I’d be looking for a portable RTK base, that you can set up near to where you’d be working, but in the clear (clear sky view) and use a UHF or LoRA radio link back to the tractor for corrections.

I’d also suggest fitting a higher than standard gain GNSS antenna to whatever receiver it is that you’re going to be using. Most good quality receivers have the capability of having an external antenna input, even if they provide a built in GNSS antenna.

Even so you still may find the tractor loses coverage, simply because of tree canopy etc. There’s no magic formula there, but some receivers are better than others.

 

[Lieven]

Take a look at fieldbee.com/all-products/

With the Fieldbee RTK gps system + Fieldbee tractor GPS navigation app, you can use your tablet or smartphone as screen (you don't need an expensive terminal).

You can easily move the RTK-receiver from one tractor to another (within 5 minutes!).

affordable RTK-precision and saving of your track/spraying work in the cloud, so you can display it on desktop computer, tablet & smartphone.

 

[stablegirl]

I was going to look at this . Has anyone any used the Fieldbee system ?

 

[Lieven]

I was going to look at this . Has anyone any used the Fieldbee system ?

I am using the Fieldbee rtk antenna and the Fieldbee app for 2 years now. In Belgium (Flanders), we can use the free rtk correction signal of the government (Flepos), so we do not need the optional rtk bee station.
I use it for spraying, sowing, mowing.

 

[DanniAgro]

I am using the Fieldbee rtk antenna and the Fieldbee app for 2 years now. In Belgium (Flanders), we can use the free rtk correction signal of the government (Flepos), so we do not need the optional rtk bee station.
I use it for spraying, sowing, mowing.

Gordon Bennet, there's a useful service the government could provide if they wanted to help farming into the brighter future everyone claims is just around the corner. Although of course they wouldn't want to upset the companies providing this service already, so it's not really a starter.
Surely if a little country like Belgium can provide its citizens with it then we should be able to?

 

[steveR]

Gordon Bennet, there's a useful service the government could provide if they wanted to help farming into the brighter future everyone claims is just around the corner. Although of course they wouldn't want to upset the companies providing this service already, so it's not really a starter.
Surely if a little country like Belgium can provide its citizens with it then we should be able to?

Some regions of Germany too.

OS should be tasked with doing this for the benefit of the wider community in the UK.

 

[steveR]

Gordon Bennet, there's a useful service the government could provide if they wanted to help farming into the brighter future everyone claims is just around the corner. Although of course they wouldn't want to upset the companies providing this service already, so it's not really a starter.
Surely if a little country like Belgium can provide its citizens with it then we should be able to?

Some regions of Germany too.

OS should be tasked with doing this for the benefit of the wider community in the UK.

 

[drifter]

I doubt there is any system which will reliably work in the areas you describe. Raw uncorrected GPS will receive just about anywhere abd doesnt really care what it bounces off, you will see this as HDOP degradation and your position constantly changing. Add a GPS based correction signal to the equation will not work here because you need a clear view of the sky with no tree shading. True radio RTK does not like to be passed through trees as it weakens the signal unless you are sending out some serious watts! You say that cell signal is weak or not at all which would rule out a subscription based RTK correction through the mobile network. If it were me i would look towards a mobile base station correction signal. Its not ideal as you have to pack it up and take it with you, however it is more than likely going to be the one which gives the best differential signals. Sorry i cant advise which one but i would be driven by dealer, location, backup and a complete understanding of what you are trying to achieve in the first place.